Wrench



Feb. 16, 1932. c. D. CUMMINGS WRENCH Filed May 15, 1929 I N VEN TOR.

CAM/Q4, .BY M W 1 ATTORNEYS.

' MT/VISS a6: $73 M.

Patented Feb. 16, 1932 were stares CHARLES E). CUMMINGS, OF TULL'Z,

rarest orrics NEVJ YGRK ASSIGNOR T ALLEN, FULLER &

OF MAINE Application filed ma 15,

This invention relates to a new and improved wrench.

This wrench is of the type which is commonly known as an alligator wrench in which the faces of the jaws of the wrench are serrated and are in angular relation.

in the ordinary wrench of this type, the jaws are lined and integral with the handle so that in order to have a wrench of the proper size for different types of work it is necessary to have available, a number of such wrenches of different sizes. Furthermore, the grip of the wrench on the pipe or other article on which it is being used is maintained by pressure applied on the wrench towards the pipe at the same time the wrench is moved to turn the pipe.

The main object of my invention is to provide an alligator wrench which will have ad justable jaws so that the distance between such jaws may be varied to fit the particular pipe or other object on which it is desired to use the wrench. I

Another object is to provide a wrench of such a design that the movement of the wrench handle in the direction in which it is desired to turn the pipe or other object will in itself act to cause the jaws of the wrench to grip the pipe more firmly.

Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape and arrangement of parts, all as will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which V Figure 1 is a side elevation partially broken away and partially in section of my improved wrench. V

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1. 7

My wrench consists of a bottom jaw memher 1 having on its upper face, serrations 2. On one side of the rear end of jaw 1, I secure as by rivets 3, an upwardly extending plate 1 and on the other side of the rear end of jaw 1 is secured between same rivets 3 a companion plate 5. I

Asecond jaw member 6 having a plurality of serrations 7 on its lower face is pivotally a plurality of Warner:

1929. Serial No. 363,193.

mounted between plates 4 and 5 by means of a rivet 8. The position of rivet 8 and the relation of aw 6 to jaw 1 is such that when the jaw 6 is moved about pivot 8, the serrations 7' will come into increasing or decreasing angular relation with the serrations 2 depending. upon the direction of movement of jaw 6. The rear end of jaw 6 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 8.

An operating handle 9 has its forward end pivotally mounted between plates l and 5 by means of arivet 10, the pivoted end of handle 9 being positioned between the rear end of jaw 1 and the arm 8 on jaw 6. 7

1n the lower end of therear face of jaw 6 beneath pivot 8, I provide a recess 11 in which is seated one end of a spiral spring 12, the

other end of spring 12 being seated in a re- I cess 13 formed in the forward end of handle 9 beneath pivot 10.

The handle 9 is provided adjacent its forward end with athrea'ded aperture 14 adapted to receive a wing bolt 15 in threaded en gagement. The position of aperture 1 1 is such that when wing bolt 15 projects therethrough it will contact with arm 8 on jaw 6.

The'spring 12 will tend to move the jaw 6 about its pivot 8 to hold the arm 8 in contact with the bolt 15.

The forward end of handle 9 is provided with a stop 16-adapted to contact with the rear end of jaw 1 to limit the downward movement of handle 8.

VJ hen the wing nut 15 is retracted in handle 9 so that arm 8 contacts with handle 9, the parts will be in the position shown in heavy lines in Figure 1 and in this position there will be the greatest distance between the jaws 1 and 6 and their angular relation will be the greatest also.

A's the wing nut 15 is advancedthrough the aperture 1 1 its end being in contact with arm 8, the jaw 6 will be moved about its pivot to bring'the serrations 7 progressively closer to the serrations 2 until the parts assume the closed position shown in dotted lines on Figure 1. The distance which wing nut 15 is caused to protrude from'aperture lt in contact with arm 8' will depend upon the size of the pipe or other object which it is desired to secure between the jaws 1 and 6.

Operation When it is desired to use my wrench on a pipe 17 the wing nut 15 is manipulated to bring the jaws 1 and 7 the proper distance apart so that the pipe 17 may be received between them, preferably approximately at their midpoint. The handle 9 is then moved about its pivot 10 towards arm .8. This movement of handle 9 will cause jaw 6 to move about its pivot 8 into gripping contact with one side of pipe 17, the other side of pipe 17 being in contact with jaw l.

The continued movement of handle 9 in this direction, jaws 1 and 6 being securely clamped on pipe 17, will cause pipe 17 to be rotated in the direction of such movement.

Thus it will be seen that the movement of handle 9 in one direction will accomplish the purpose of securely gripping pipe 17 between jaws 1 and 6 and also will cause the rotary movement of such pipe 17'.

Although I have here shown a wrench with a specific arrangement and shape of parts, it will be obvious that various changes may be made in the size and shape of the various parts and in their relation to each other, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and although I have shown and described a specific structure and form of part as exemplifying an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape or relation of parts, as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claim.

In a device of the class described, a frame, a jaw secured to the frame, a second jaw pivotally mounted on the frame and having one end in opposed relation to the other jaw and having its other end extending outwardly beyond its pivot, a handle pivoted on the rame and having its inner end adjacent the outwardly extending end of the pivoted jaw and having a stop on its inner end adapted to contact with the first named jaw to limit its movement about its pivot in one direction, an adjustable rod on the inner end of the handle between the handle and the pivoted end of the pivoted jaw and a spring interposed between the inner end of the handle and the pivoted jaw to normally urge the pivoted jaw about its pivot to hold the outwardly extending end of the pivoted jaw in contact with the adjustable rod.

In witnses whereof I have hereunto 'set my hand this 9 day of May, 1929.

CHARLES D. CUMMINGS. 

